Fall skies fill with migrating birds

Every autumn, just stepping outside into nature and looking around can take you back to another time in the Central Valley, yet it is 2013.

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By Peter Ottesen

recordnet.com

By Peter Ottesen

Posted Oct. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Peter Ottesen

Posted Oct. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Every autumn, just stepping outside into nature and looking around can take you back to another time in the Central Valley, yet it is 2013.

It's hard to believe that when it comes to fish and wildlife, regardless of so much negative human impact and habitat degradation, the critters persevere and try to survive. They somehow keep coming back, right on schedule.

As they have for millennia, millions of migratory birds are on the wing - most notably ducks, geese, swans and cranes - to winter here. Mighty king salmon are returning to their streams of origin to spawn and die to complete their life cycles.

For hunters, the stewards of the vast majority of California's remaining wetlands, duck and goose hunting seasons opened Oct. 19 and run for 100 consecutive days. The fall flight is predicted to be exceptionally strong with the second-highest number of birds filling the skies since records began in 1955.

Bird watchers herald the coming of sandhill cranes to local alfalfa fields and the annual Lodi Crane Festival Friday through Sunday at Hutchins Street Square. They also point toward "Crane Day" on Nov. 16 at Merced National Wildlife Refuge to celebrate the return of the lesser sandhills. Each free event boasts exhibits, field tours and activities for children.

Outdoor enthusiasts also can create their own adventure by visiting the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery on McIntire Road east of Clements on Highway 12 to see the salmon, or taking a marsh walk at the Cosumnes River Preserve 17 miles north of Stockton east of Interstate 5, where flocks of white-fronted geese and a mix of ducks, including northern pintail, are visible from a boardwalk. The visitor center at the preserve is open weekends with docents offering walking tips and wildlife interpretation.

The premiere waterfowl conservation organization, Ducks Unlimited, will host its 75th annual dinner, raffle and auction on Nov. 7 at Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium, giving conservationists another opportunity to foot the bill for wildlife. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and as enthusiastic volunteers proclaim, "The quack is back at the auditorium."

Jim Cox Jr. recalls when, as a lad of 10 years, his father took him to his first DU dinner.

"It was like Christmas as we walked into the dinner and every youth received a backpack filled with hunting goodies. There were display cases filled with guns, all kinds of games, Labrador puppies and hunting trips to win and all sorts of artwork, like paintings and sculptures."

Thanks to the seven league efforts of old-timers, now deceased, like Bob Eberhardt, Elmer Boss, Val Dervin, Sal Curci, Fred Feary, Dick Klein, Gordon Medlin and so many others, the Stockton Ducks Unlimited chapter raised more money than anywhere else in the country between 1984-1988.

"Economic uncertainties and other factors forced the dinner to downsize and move to other venues," said Cox, a first-year committee member. "But, now we're back at the civic auditorium with an amazing event in store, with a huge raffle and auction, and the chance to take home three shotguns that will become instant collector items."

The donation to attend the event is $70 adults, $35 16 and under, and, in keeping with tradition, every youngster will take home a prize.

Advance tickets are available at ca.ducks.org or by contacting Leslie Eberhardt Brown at The Bank of Stockton, (209) 941-1229.

It's the best investment we can make to insure that birds will continue to fill the sky.